Electric search-light



' (No Modehl.) 2 sheetssheen 1.

N. WEEKS, Jr. vEIJSGIRIG SEARCH LIGHT.

No. 469,050. Patented Feb. 16,1892.

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N. WEEKS, Jr. ELECTRIC SEARCH LICHT.

(No Model.)

Patented Peb. 16, 1892,.

6, .WJ F.

@WMM/Cosas UNITED f STATES PATENT OEEICE.

NELSON VEEKS, JR., OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEr YORK.

ELECTRIC SEARCH-LIGHT.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,050, dated February 16, 1892.

Application tiled June 4, 1891. Serial No. 395,072. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON WEEKS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Long Island Oity, county of Queens, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Search-Lights, fully set forth in the following description and represented in the accompanying drawings.

Thisinventionrelates, generally, to electric lamps, and more particularly to those adapted for search-light purposes-that is to say, in which there is combined with the electric lamp a reector and lens for throwing parallel rays of light to a distance or for concentrating the rays of light on a distant object.

The invention has for its object,primarily, to save all of the strongest rays of light by causing them to be received directly upon the reecting-lens, and by it transmitted to a distance. y

It also has for its object to improve the general construction of such lamp, whereby it may be manipulated with ease, either by hand or automatically, and to lessen its weight, first cost, and cost of maintenance.

To this end the invention consists in arranging the carbons of the lamp in a line bons are received directly upon the reflecting-lens.

It also consists in supporting the lamp from or upon gimbals, adapting it for service on ship board, and to maintain a substantially fixed position irrespective of the motion of the ship.

It furthermore consists in combining with the lamp a front reflector for receiving those rays of light that would be otherwise lost and transmitting them to the reflectinglens and in making the front reflector in the form of a movable shutter that may be used for signaling purposes.

It finally consists in means for regulating the position of the lamp for directing its rays upon the distant object, either with or independent of the universal movement upon or from the gimbals, and in details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate apractical embodiment of the invention in its preferred form,as well as in one of the many modifications thereof that would be readily suggested to a skilled mechanic, Figure l is a front view partiallyin vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.,the base being omitted. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. FigA is an enlarged detailed section of a pair of solenoids for turning a wheel and shaft in either direction. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of the reiectinglens and carbons. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the lamp-frame.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. i, it will be understood that the improved lamp A is supported or held by a suitable framework composed in the main of a yoke-bracket B, that is carried by a support or base C. The lamp proper is contained by an annular frame D, having opposite trunnions a, that find bearings in the ends of the yoke-bracket, which thus allows the annular frame, with the lamp, to swing to any position either side of its vertical plane. The yoke-bracketB is provided with a central stem b, that is received and supported by a pendant c, in which it is adapted to turn or rotate horizontally, resting at its upper end upon a ball-bearing d. The pendant in turn is carried by a pair of gimbals e e', the outer one of which is immediately sup ported in the upper end of the baseO. lThe base O is of hollow, cylindrical, orconical shape, adapted to receive the stem of thezyoltef.

bracket and the pendant and sufficiently wide'- to allow them to assume any angle with respect to the vertical center of the base in the swinging movements upon the gimbals ce of the lamp and its immediatel supporting connections, which are thus kept vertical, while its base partakes of the movements of the vessel, duc., by which it may be carried. It may IOO the lamp so that it may have universal movement for adjusting it from the yoke-bracket to different positions for directing the rays from the lamp to a distance, as well as adapting the lamp to automatically keep a vertical position during any change in the position of its base.

The lamp may be adjusted by hand or automatically to direct the rays of 'light in any direction, either in a vertical or horizontal plane. Thus the annular frame D is provided with aWorm-wheel 30 at one of its trunnions, that is engaged by a worm at the end of a vertical rod 31,the lower end of which carries a toothed wheel 32,adapted to be engaged by either one of a pair of pawls, according to the direction to beiniparted to the wheel and shaft, operated by energizing either one of a pair of solenoids g', carried by the yoke bracket B, the general construction of which solenoids, being similar to other solenoids used in the lamp, is shown in Fig. 4 and will be hereinafter described. By energizing'either one of the pair of solenoids g the shaft 3l will be rotated to cause the frame D, containing the lamp proper, to be moved to any inclination desired, and thus direct the rays of light to any point vertically. The lamp is moved horizontally by energizing either one of a similar pair of solenoids g2, also carried by the yokebracket B, to turn a toothed Wheel 33, which, through a pinion 34, connected therewith and mounted in the bracket B, meshes with a fixed toot-hed edge or wheel 35 at the end of the sleeve c, containing the vertical stem of said yoke-bracket. lhe solenoids g2 and connections are similar to those shown in Fig. 4, to be hereinafter described.

The lamp proper may be of any of the usual forms, with means for supporting and regu-- lating the carbons of common form. In the present instance the pair of carbons f-the negative and positive carbons, respectivelyare supported by a suitable holder E in a plane parallel with the horizontal rays thrown by the reflecting-lens F. The longitudinal axis of the carbons coincide with substantially the center of the refiecting-lens, thus presenting the arc of light at the carbon points in the most advantageous position with respect to the said lens, and so cause a very large proportion of the rays of. light to be caught thereby. In this position of the carbons with respect to the reflecting-lens, with the negative carbon on the leus side, all the strongest rays of light from the electric arc are caught by the lens for the reason that the end of the positive carbon, which during use assumes a hollow or concaved form, isin itself a reflector of high power at the point where the rays of light are the most intense, reflect those rays directly onto the reflecting-lens, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The lamp-holder E is arranged, preferably, vertically across and in front of the reflecting-lens, its various parts being located in the same vertical plane, so that only a narrow obstruction is presented to the reflected rays of' light. The holder is adapted to slide in and out of the annular frame D and is confined in place by the usual glass front D; and it consists of' a pair of rods 2O 21, connected together rigidly by suitable tie-rods and by a pair of tubular bars 22 23,the latter being insulated from the rods. The major portion of the holder is supported so as to be longitudinally adjustable with respect to the annular frame D and to and from the reflecting-lens by a longitudinal guide 24, consisting of a pair of uprights projecting from the annular holder-frame E and a pair of` longitudinal tiebars secured to the uprights.

Any means may be employed for moving the holder with respect to its guide 24;, either by hand or automatically, or by both. Thus the longitudinal guide supports a feed-screw 25, engaging with a nut formed in the rod 2l. and actuated by a thumb-wheel on a vertical worm-rod 2G, the worm of which is engaged with a worm-wheel 27, fast to the screw-shaft. The feed-screw may be moved automatically by energizing either one of a pair of solenoids g. (see Figs. 2 and 4,) according to the direction of movement to be imparted to the feedscrew. The cores of the solenoids (referring now to Fig. 4) are each provided with a pawl 40, carried by an arm 41, swinging loosely onA the shaft 26 to engage a toothed wheel 28, fast to the worm-shaft. Vhen either one of the solenoids is energized, the core first moves the pawl into engagement with the toothed wheel and then rocks the arm and pawl together to a certain distance. Soon after the arm commences to move the circuit through the solenoid is broken automatically and allows the parts to return to their former position. The positive carbonfis held bya socket 19, carried by and adapted to slide horizontally on the tubular bar 22, the said socket being formed in two portions insulated from one another,so that the current will not pass to the lamp-holder. The socket carries a contact-strip bearing against a continuous stationary conductor 1S in the lamp-circuit, extending between and insulated from the pair of rods 2O 21, the current being led to said continuous conductorand by the contact-strip to the carbon in any position of the carbonsocket during the feed of the carbons. The negative carbon t' is held by a socket 17, sliding in the core of a magnet-coil 16, employed for forming the arc by action of the passing current, the said coil being carried by a pair of arms 15, having horizontal rods, which enter the tubular bars 22 23 and are thereby guided during the feeding movement of the negative carbon. Both carbons are positively fed by means of a right and left hand screwthreaded rod 14, mounted in bearings in the lamp-holder E, the left-hand threaded portion engaging with one of the arms 15,supporting the negative carbon, while the right-hand threaded portion engages the socket 19 of the positive carbon. This screw-threaded rod 1i TOO IKC)

is provided with a worm-wheel 1K3, that is'engaged by a worm12 on a vertical operatingrod 1l, mounted in the lamp-holder frame,

having at one end a thumb-wheel for hand operation and on the opposite end a toothed wheel 10 for automatic operation by a pawl moved upon the energizing of a coil h of the usual form, which may be called the feed and resistance coil.

No .detailed description need be given of the circuits through the lamp, as they will be arranged in the ordinary Way.

Vhile the arrangement of the carbons with respect to the reilecting-lens is such as to transmit substantially all of the stronger rays of light against said lens, it has been deemed best,in order to save any other rays that might escape the lens, to provide afront reflector I immediately adjacent to and in front of the carbon points. This front reiiector is of curved form, encircling the positive carbon f and supported in position so that those rays of light which wouldnaturally proceed directly to the front are caught by the reflector and'returned t'o the reflecting-lens.

In practice it will be found advantageous to adapt this front reflector for signaling purposes, and to this end this reflector is made movable with respect to the points of the carbons, so that it may be moved to obstruct the transmission of the rays of light from the arc to the reflecting-lens. While there are many Ways of mounting this reflector so that it may be moved for this purpose, in the present instance the reflector is formed of two quarter-A spheres 2, each mounted on vertical pivots l to permit the portions of the reflector to move from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 into the position indicated in dotted lines in said figure; This movement of the front reflector may be eected by hand, but is preferably accomplished automatically by providing a magnet 7c, located at the upper end of the lamp-holder frame, (see Fig. 1,) that acts upon an armature 8, carried at one end of a lever 9, pivoted to the frame, the opposite end of which is of duplex form, each portion en'- gaging with one portion of the front reflector. From this construction it results that when the magnet k is energized the armature will be kattracted and the lever 9 rocked, thereby swinging each portion of the front reflector on its pivot into the dotted position shown in Fig. 3, and upon breaking the circuit including said magnet the armature will return and the portions of the front reflector will also return to their normal position. The periods of time between each movement of the reilector and the duration of the obstruction of light from the reflecting-lens may be'readily employed for signaling, by means of the lamp, to a distance.

Vhile the mode of supporting the lamp shown in Fig. l may in some cases be prefer able, it is obvious that the mode shown in Fig. 6 and now to be described has some advan tages overit. In this modified form the lamp frame B.

sired. The annular frame D, carrying the lamp, is, as before, hung' by its trunnions in lthe yoke-bracket B, that is suspended by its central stem b in one of a pair of gimbals e e',

mounted at the end of the arched frame B. .Between the end of the stem and the inner gimbal are interposed anti-friction rolls, so as to form a ball-bearing d for the free rotation of the yoke-frame and lamp with respect to The inner gimbal is sleeved to surround the stem and at its lower end carries a toothed wheel 35,- that is engaged by a pinion 34, a toothed wheel33 connected with which is operated by the solenoid g2, all as in the structure previously described. The annular frame, with the lamp,is inclined to various -degrees from its vertical position automatically by the solenoid g', acting through the .worm-shaft 3l and Worm-wheel 30, fast to one of the trunnions of the annular frame D, as before described.

In using the term lens I do not wish to be understood as excluding the idea that a surface reflector of proper shape may be employed as as the equivalent for some purposes of the part F.

l. The combination of'a case or drum, a

,lens mounted therein, and an arc light and its -frame supported by said drum with the 'carbon pencils parallel with the axis of the lens, substantially as set forth.

2. A lens having a central aperture, combined with an arc light havingits carbon-supporting frame projecting independently of the lens into said aperture, the negative electrode being adjacent to the lens, substantially as set forth.

3. In a search-light, the combination, with the reflecting-lens, of the carbons supported in front thereof, and aremovable reflector to obstruct the rays of light from the arc to the reflecting-lens, substantially as described.

4., In a search-light, the combination, with the reiiecting-lens, of the carbons supported in a line parallel with therays of light from said lens, and a front reiiector surrounding one of the carbons in front of the points thereof, substantially as described.

5. In a search-light, the combination, with the reflecting-lens, of the carbons supported in a line parallel with the rays of light from said lens, and a front reliector movable from a position in front of the points of the carbons to a position behind them, substantially as described.

6. In -a search-light, the combination, with the reecting-lens, of the carbons supported in front thereof, a movable reflector to obstruct the rays of light from the arc to the reflecting-lens, and a magnet and connecis suspended at the upper end of an arched IOC) tions for moving said reflector, substantially as described.

7. In a search-light, the combination, with the reflecting-lens, of the carbons supported in front thereof, and a reflector formed of two parts, each movable from a position in front of the carbon points to a position behind them, substantially as described.

8. In a search-light, the combination, with the reflecting-lens, of the carbons supported in front thereof, a reflector formed of two curved parts, each adapted to oscillate on pivots to and from a position in front ot the car bon points, substantially as described.

9. In a search-light, the combination, with the lamp and its reecting-lens, of an annular frame containing the same and having trun nions, a Worin-wheel secured to one of the trunnions, a yoke -bracket supporting the trunnions, a worm, and connections with a magnet-coil carried by the yoke-bracket for moving said frame and adjusting the lamp to diiterent positions, substantially as described.

l0. In a search-light, the combination, with the lamp and its reflecting-lens, of a yokebracket supporting the same and mounted to rotate on a central stem, a stationary gear surrounding said stem, a pinion carried by the yoke-bracket, and connections with a magnet-coil for moving said yoke-bracket and adjusting the lamp to different positions, substantially as described.

1l. In a search-light, the combination, with the lamp and its reecting-lens, of an annular frame containing the same, a yoke-bracket supporting said frame in trunnion-bearin'gs and having a central spindle, magnet-coils, and connections with the frame and with the yoke-bracket carried by the latter for moving the same and adjusting the lamp to different positions, substantially as described.

12. In a search-light, the combination, with the lamp and its reflecting-lens, of the annular frame, the carbon-holder frame removable from the annular frame, and an adjusting means for and forming part of said holdingframe to vary the carbon points with respect to the reflecting-lens, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the carbon-holder v frame having tubular guide-bars, a socket for one of the carbons slidable onone of the guidebars, a socket for the other carbons, having guide-rods slidable in said tubular bars, and a right and left handed screw-rod connecting said sockets for moving them simultaneously, substantially as described.

ll. In a search-light, the combination, With the annular frame containing the lamp and its reilecting-lens, of a yoke-bracket supporting said annular frame, a pair of gimbals supporting said bracket, and a pinion and toothed Wheel for rotating said frame and bracket irrespective of the gimbals, substantially as described.

l5. The combination, with ,the lens, of a lamp-holder frame projecting into or across the lens, having bearings for holding the oarbons at right angles to the frame, substantially as described.

16. The combination, with the lens, of a vertical lamp-holder frame extending across the lens, having bearings for holding the carbons and supporting the carbon-feed screw at right angles to the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand, this 29th day of May, A. D. 1891, in the presence of two witnesses.

NELSON WEEKS, JR. Witnesses:

GEO. Il. GRAHAM, N. MARLER. 

